A decline of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common issue, especially among older individuals.
Dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, but it can also cause tooth damage. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive decay can develop in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dry, red or grooved tongue
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sticky feeling in the mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Struggles chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing factors include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s capacity to metabolize medication, chronic health problems and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can curtail saliva production and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical ailments include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in San Diego) are some of the medications that can lead to dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone Marcos Ortega DDS dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
The following can also contribute to dry mouth:
- Snoring or breathing through the mouth
- Drinking alcohol
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco)
- Recreational drugs
If you suffer from dry mouth, it’s vital to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Marcos Ortega DDS to schedule an appointment with Dr. Marcos Ortega.
Contact Marcos Ortega DDS:
619-295-4545
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
306 Walnut Ave Ste 25
San Diego, California
92103